Rick Nash scored his first goal since returning from a leg injury and Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves in leading the Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Panthers on Monday night.
Viktor Stalberg, Mats Zuccarello and Tanner Glass also scored for the Rangers, who moved two points ahead of idle Pittsburgh for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers have nine games left in the regular season, one more than the Penguins, who have won six in a row.
Vincent Trocheck and Jiri Hudler scored for the Panthers, who lost their second straight. The Atlantic Division leaders are two points in front of Tampa Bay with nine games to go, one fewer than the Lightning have left.